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Tesla Model 3 vs VW ID.5
Selected trimRWDChange trim332 mi · 60 kWh · £37,990
At a glance
In this comparison, Tesla Model 3 leads on running costs, while the VW ID.5 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Tesla Model 3 if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.8p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the VW ID.5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
Tesla
6.4
VW
7.4
Motorway RangeVW
Tesla
5.5
VW
6.7
FamilyVW
Tesla
7.1
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Tesla
2.3
VW
5.7
Cost Per MileTesla
Tesla
8.8
VW
7.5
City DrivingVW
Tesla
4
VW
6.3
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £37,990 | £36,995 (better) |
| Official range | 332 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 682 L (better) | 539 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 29 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.2 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
Size Comparison
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Tesla Model 3
VW ID.5
Length
Tesla Model 34,721mm
VW ID.54,599mm-122mm
Width
Tesla Model 31,933mm
VW ID.51,852mm-81mm
Height
Tesla Model 31,440mm-178mm
VW ID.51,618mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,721 mm | 4,599 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,933 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,088 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,618 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.6 m | 10.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 467 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 682 L (better) | 539 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 0 kg | 1,000 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Tesla Model 3
- 2nd-largest boot among saloon EVs in our catalogue at 682 L.
- At 4,721 mm, shorter than 90% of saloon EVs in our UK catalogue.
- Uses 130 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 100% of saloon EVs we track.
VW ID.5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Tesla Model 3 RWD |  VW ID.5 Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.72m | 4.60m-122mm |
| Width | 1.93m | 1.85m-81mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.09m | Not available |
| Height | 1.44m | 1.62m+178mm |
| Wheelbase | Not available | 2.77m |
| Ground Clearance | 137mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 682L* (better) | 539L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.6m | 10.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,772kg (better) | 2,128kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,000kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 60kWh | 79kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 332 mi | 352 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 175kW (better) | 165kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £37,990 | £36,995 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £37,990 (not eligible) | £35,495 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Saloon | SUV |
| Available | 2024+ | 2026+ |
* Tesla Model 3: Tesla publishes 682 L as total cargo volume (boot + frunk, measured to roof) — not directly comparable to standard VDA figures used by other brands.
* Tesla Model 3: Not published by Tesla; verified from multiple independent sources.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 332 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 229 miles | 293 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 29 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 175 kW (better) | 165 kW |
| Home AC charging | Not available | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 130 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 57.5 kWh | 79 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.2 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
| Power | 208 kW | 210 kW (better) |
| Torque | 340 Nm | 545 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Tesla Model 3
RWD
8.5/10
average across 6 reviews
- Auto Express4.5/5
- Electrifying.com9/10
- DrivingElectric4.5/5
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Tesla Model 3
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Tesla Model 3 RWD
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant90%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users89%
Safety Assist87%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.5 Pro Essential
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Tesla Model 3RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Tesla Model 3
RWD
Owners love
- Excellent driving dynamics with responsive steering, handling, and smooth one-pedal regenerative braking
- Superior touchscreen interface that is intuitive, responsive, and readable in sunlight
- Growing Supercharger network offers reliable charging infrastructure with competitive pricing
Watch out for
- Removal of physical stalks for wipers and turn signals creates safety concerns and requires constant touchscreen interaction while driving
- Automatic windshield wipers frequently malfunction in light rain and drizzle due to camera-based Tesla Vision system
- Unreliable indicator stalk (on older models with stalks) frequently malfunctions or doesn't respond consistently
Owner tips
- Test drive the specific model configuration before ordering to experience controls, door handles, and touchscreen usability in real driving conditions
- Use home charging with EV-specific energy tariffs to maximize cost savings; home charging is significantly cheaper than public chargers
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Owners love
- Owners praise the design, interior quality and the roomy rear with no centre tunnel.
- It is easy to live with as a first EV, with a comfortable ride and low servicing costs.
- The adjustable regenerative braking works well for everyday driving.
Watch out for
- Touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard are easy to press by accident.
- Some owners report app problems, such as wrong charge or range readings when used with smart chargers.
- One owner reports key fob batteries draining within about a month.
Owner tips
- Test the touch controls carefully on the test drive.
- Set charging schedules in the car rather than through several apps at once.
Buying options
Get a quote
Tesla Model 3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Tesla Model 3
- £32,6462025Car360View
- £30,2992025Car360View
- £29,6992025Car360View
VW ID.5
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Tesla Model 3 or the VW ID.5?
The VW ID.5 is £995 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £144 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.5 comes out roughly £955 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 229 miles for the Tesla Model 3 and 293 miles for the VW ID.5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.5 goes roughly 64 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Tesla Model 3 or the VW ID.5?
The VW ID.5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 81 mm narrower than the Tesla Model 3. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.5 and about 467 mm of total clearance for the Tesla Model 3. The VW ID.5 also turns in a 1.4 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Tesla Model 3 or the VW ID.5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 92% battery health for the Tesla Model 3 and 84% for the VW ID.5. That gives the Tesla Model 3 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Tesla Model 3's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the VW ID.5's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Tesla Model 3 comparisons
More VW ID.5 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among long-range EVsWhere the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Tesla Model 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .